Chapter 27: Qualified Enough? Part 1

For nearly two weeks, Miao Zhu hadn’t slept well. Jet lag made it so she couldn’t sleep when she should and couldn’t wake up when she needed to.

But this sleep after returning to Mu Shanyi’s side had her out cold until noon the next day, when she finally stirred awake.

She was alone in the room. Though she didn’t know the exact time, she was sure she had overslept.

Lifting the covers, Miao Zhu let out a surprised “Eh.” Her nightgown had been changed? When did that happen?

Her mind flashed through the scenes like a slideshow in fast-forward and rewind.

…Last night’s nightgown had gone from being on her body to bitten into her mouth, getting all dirty. Mu Shanyi had carried her to bathe, and Mu Shanyi had changed her into sleepwear too.

Miao Zhu got out of bed with her whole body aching softly. She searched the house but couldn’t find Mu Shanyi anywhere.

Disappointed, she returned to the room to wash up and do her skincare. When her perked-up ears finally caught sounds from outside, she hurried out of the room.

Mu Shanyi, dressed neatly, stood by the side cabinet drinking water.

“You’re awake?”

“You’re back?”

They asked in unison. Mu Shanyi set down her glass and reached out a hand to Miao Zhu. “I went to the company. You didn’t reply to my messages, so I figured you were still sleeping.”

“I didn’t turn my phone on.” Miao Zhu ran into Mu Shanyi’s arms and tilted her face up. “Sister A-Heng, I’m starving.”

How could one describe Miao Zhu when she was acting spoiled like this?

Mu Shanyi had no conclusion even as she leaned down to kiss her, but she believed no one could resist such a Miao Zhu.

The two held hands as they went to the kitchen. The fridge had fresh frozen tuna and steaks that could be pan-fried. Miao Zhu chose the fish, and Mu Shanyi took out yogurt, nuts, and a few seasonal fruits to make a yogurt bowl.

“Do you usually eat stuff like this when you’re on your own?” Miao Zhu poked her head out from behind her. She wrapped her arms around Mu Shanyi’s waist and refused to let go, following wherever Mu Shanyi moved.

Now she understood what Jiang Jingjing had meant before—that feeling of wanting to stick to the other person every moment, no matter how close it was never enough.

“There aren’t many chances to cook for myself. This is convenient and simple.” Mu Shanyi handled the fruits first. “I was planning to take you out to eat, but it’s too late now.”

“Why is it too late? Do you have to go out later?” The brightness in Miao Zhu’s voice dimmed noticeably.

“I have to head out.”

“…Okay then. I’ll go to Ye Yi’s in the afternoon.” Miao Zhu listlessly bumped her forehead against Mu Shanyi’s shoulder, her warm breath sprinkling on Mu Shanyi’s back. “Ye Yi should be home, right? I can play with Princess and Grace.”

She paused. “Sister A-Heng, what time will you be back?”

She had snuck back to the country just for Mu Shanyi, so all her time belonged to Mu Shanyi. If Mu Shanyi wasn’t home, the only thing she could do was wait.

It wasn’t fair, and it was cruel.

Especially since she was only staying for two days.

Mu Shanyi understood all this and felt Miao Zhu’s clinginess for the first time.

She arranged the fruits in the bowl, wiped her hands, turned to look at Miao Zhu, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Want to come with me?”

“Really!?” Miao Zhu’s gloom vanished instantly. She asked eagerly, “Where to?”

Mu Shanyi: “Jinyuan.”

The arms around Mu Shanyi stiffened unnaturally.

Miao Zhu’s throat moved slightly as she hesitated, not daring to agree easily.

Jinyuan was the Mu Family’s old estate, home to Old Madam Mu. Given her relationship with Mu Shanyi, it wasn’t appropriate to go. Besides, her luggage only had perfumes, silk scarves, chocolates, and plush toys as souvenirs—none suitable as gifts for visiting an elder.

“Old Madam’s friends came to chat with her. I’m just going through the motions. You don’t have to see her if you don’t want to.” Mu Shanyi knew exactly what Miao Zhu was hesitating over. “Just wait for me there for a bit.”

“I really don’t have to see her?” Miao Zhu wavered at Mu Shanyi’s words.

“Of course not.”

“Wouldn’t that be rude?”

“No, Old Madam dotes on the young ones and doesn’t care about that stuff.” Mu Shanyi’s fingers stroked into Miao Zhu’s hair. “Will you come with me?”

Miao Zhu fluttered her lashes, then looked up, her emotions overriding reason. “Yes!”

Jinyuan was a private garden estate, divided into East Garden and West Garden by a winding natural lake. After it became a key cultural heritage site, the Mu Family had donated the more scenic West Garden to the Cloud City Museum for free, while the Mu Family lived only in the East Garden across the lake.

Every kid in Cloud City had been brought to Jinyuan for spring outings in kindergarten and written essays about it in elementary school. Miao Zhu was no exception.

“My teacher gave me a fail and made me rewrite it. I just couldn’t get it right, and ended up crying as I fell asleep on my desk. That night, I don’t know how many vows I made.” Walking side by side with Mu Shanyi along the East Garden’s covered walkway, Miao Zhu reminisced about the old story.

Mu Shanyi couldn’t hide her smile. “What vows?”